Steering gear



Patented Aug. 21, .1923.

' UNIT-LED sires HDONAIQHD T. nesrines, or nnir noinnronreenf 7 v v srnnar ve e s a plication filed October 31,1921; sena lac/511,757;

The invention relates to steering gearsand refers more particularly to steering columns of the concentric tube type. Here tofore, it has been necessary to accurately fit the tubes forming a column so that they could be operated readily and at the same time would not rattle. WVith my invention, this accurate fitting of the tubes is not necessary, and furthermore, they are prevented from rattling and in addition, lubricated. lVith this object in view, the inven tion resides in the novel features as more fully hereinafter et forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a steering column embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section therethrough. i

l is anouter stationary tube mounted in the supporting bracket 2 upon the dash 3 of a motor vehicle. dis a second rotatable tube within the outer tube 1 and secured at its upper end to the steering wheel 5 and at its lower end to suitable mechanism for operating the front ground wheels of the motor vehicle. 6 is a third stationary tube within the second tube 4 and supporting at the upper end, the quadrant 7. 8 is a fourth ro-' tatable tube within the third tube 6. and secured at its upper end to the throttle control lever "9 and at its lower end to suitable mechanism for operating the throttle valve. 10 is a fifth rotatable tube within the fourth rotatable tube 8 and connected at its upper have provided means for introducing a plastic lubricant filler to completely fill the space between the columns. In detail, the outer the spaces therebetween.

' tube'li has the opening therein for receivingj the valve controlled nipplelt. "The second,- thirdjand'fourth tubespd, 6 and 8" 4 respectively, areie ach provided with the series of'holes l5,"l6 and 17 respectively for" placingthe spaces between all the tubes in 1 communication with each other. suitable grease gun adapted'to be connected to the valve controlled nipple 1 1 and to 18 is a:

force grease 'under pressure into the spaces 5 between the tubes, this grease passing through the apertures 15, 16 and 17. The

grease is forced into the steering column until all the spaces between the tubes are completely filled, at which time the grease constitutes an anti-rattling cushion or packing between the tubes.

From the above description, it will be readily seen that with my invention, the

tubes are prevented from rattling by the lubricant which forms a cushion or packing and need not be as accurately fitted as required heretofore, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture of the steering gean. Fur- .thermore,'the tubes are lubricated so that they can be more freely operated.

What-I claim as my invention is: 1. The combination with a series of relatively 'rnovable columns surrounding each other, of a plastic'lubricant filler constituting an anti-rattle cushion between said 001- completely. filling umns and substantially 2. In a. steering gear, the combination with aseries of substantially concentric colunins, of means for introducing a plastic filler constituting an anti-rattlc cushion between said columnsto substantially com pletely fill the spaces thercbetween.

.3. In a steering gear, the combination with a' series of substantially concentric relatively movable columns l having apertures therein for placing the spaces between said columns in communication with each other, and bushings at the ends of said col umns for closing the spaces, of a lubricant CllSlllOIl for said columns adapted to be apertures into the and third tubes having aperturestherein,

and bushings between said tubes near their oppositerends, of a lubricant cushion for bushings between said tubes near their opposite ends, of a lubricant cushion for said tubes filling the spaces thei'tebetween and adapted to be. forced successively through the apertures in said first, second, third,

and fourth tubes.

6. The combination with relatively movable spaced ap-artcolumns, one of which surrounds the other, of a plastic filler between said columns and constituting an anti-rattle cushion substantially completely filling the space therebetween. L 1 y Q In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

DONALD T; HASTINGS. 

